[Brian Bauer]

I see worldcup skimo races where the glide the racers are getting is incredible. my skins do not glide like this, but I want them to. I am using 65 under-foot width race skis, Pomoca and Coltex race skins. if its wet snow, I treat the skins with Nikwax. if its colder I wax the skins with Swix or Star liquid skin glide wax.  I understand that race skins need at least 10k vert to break-in, and most of my skins have this much vert…but they just don’t glide like I see in worldcup. I suspect that the fastest skins used by elite racers are like prized possessions nurtured over seasons, and are probably on the edge of “too worn out to work at all” and “very fast”.   so apart from wearing the skins into worn-out fast condition, am I missing a trick to get them to glide? thanks

[Kylee Toth]

Hi,

I actually race world cups and know exactly what you are observing. Skin choice is an art and science. We will study the race course profile and plan exact skins for each climb to maximize what we need. A lot of racers use 59 width skins and only 62 for steeper icy sections. We also have different length skins some quit short and some up to a foot and a half  behind our rear bindings. We generally hot wax our skins (google pomoco hot waxing skins for a good video) on how to do this. You are right mileage on skins makes them faster a quick way to help wear in skins is to ski downhill with them if your are in a hurry. So in summary your main tools for making skins quicker:

1. Shorter and less wide

2. waxing to improve waterproofing

3. liquid waxes like you described above

4. wearing them in

Tips to make skins grippier

1. longer and wider

2. Pomoco grip skins instead of race pro

One overlooked factor when watching WC racers is technique often the look glidier because they have world class technique when skinning. We do technical skinning practice often and have coaches who analyze our stride. If you are interested in this consider booking a phone consult or custom coaching. To do this on your own practice skinning  in race gear at a nordic Center and video yourself, you will surely pull out things you can improve. Also, consider hoping on classic xc skis and getting a lesson if you have no Nordic background.

Hope this helps!

Kylee

[Brian Bauer]

I race nordic so my glide technique is pretty good. this past season I waxed my skins regularly.  what I found is that some snow simply glides really well, other snow does not.  the very cold, dry snow I am used to in Montana just does not glide super well…both is Nordic and skimo racing…

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